Leteesha Flore, Apprentice Project Engineer at Group SCS
As part of National Apprenticeship Week (#NAW2020), which runs February 3-9, we have been finding out from our apprentices how they are getting on and what it’s like to do an apprenticeship.
Group SCS is a firm believer in apprenticeships and has helped a number of people get into the construction industry via apprenticeships.
Leteesha Flore is an Apprentice Project Engineer and is on her second and final year of a HNC in Building Services Engineering at City of Westminster College. She is currently based on a site in Battersea working with Senior Project Manager Chris Taylor for that project.
She said: “My apprenticeship is going well. I’m learning a lot from my mentor, Chris Taylor. We go through the steps behind our selection process – for equipment, sub-contractors etc – and how this is reflected in our finances and drawings.”
Document work
As part of her apprenticeship, Leteesha spends time both at college and at work. She explained: “On a daily basis at the moment my work involves a lot of document work. For example – preparing RAMS (Risk Assessment Method Statements), updating datasheets and co-ordination of services on drawings. It also involves going to regular meetings to discuss co-ordination and equipment requirements.
“Study-wise, I am doing a little bit of my coursework every day to give me enough time to get the high grades. I sit down with my tutors on Tuesdays when I’m in college to go over the work I’ve completed and see how it can be improved.”
So, would Leteesha recommend an apprenticeship?
She said: “I have found that doing an apprenticeship has made learning technical information easier as you get to see it in practice as well as learn it in theory. It helps to see both sides as sometimes what should work in theory is not always possible in real life.
“The most obvious reason I would recommend apprenticeships is because you are earning and learning at the same time but the experience you gain is the best part. I have met people who have been in the industry longer than I’ve been alive and they have so much knowledge to pass on, and because of this I feel it helps with developing life skills such as talking to people and managing your time.”
